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The Story

(Late 17th century France)

In rural Normandy, during the reign of Luis XIV, lives a miserly farmer called Gaspard. Two girls, about

the same age, belong to his household – Germaine, his supposed niece and likely to inherit his money, and Serpolette, a waif he has adopted, details of whose birth remain a mystery. Gaspard wants Germaine to marry the Bailie, the chief local official. She, however, has vowed to wed no one but the man who has recently rescued her from drowning. Grenicheux, a feckless young fisherman, takes credit for the deed and Serpolette becomes vexed when he starts paying more attention to Germaine. A colourful stranger arrives in Corneville. His sea captain’s uniform conceals the fact that Henri is the son of the Marquis of Corneville, exiled twenty years previously. Germaine tells him of the legend of the long closed-up chateau, reputedly haunted. Its bells will only peal forth again when the rightful master returns. At the hiring fair, Henri takes into his service Germaine, Serpolette and Grenicheux, all eager to get away from Gaspard. Along with them, some of his crew and the coerced Bailie, Henri enters the chateau by night. Then he reveals he is the lawful owner of Corneville. A portfolio of papers seems to prove that Serpolette is really a Viscountess, heiress to the Lucenay fortune. Henri becomes convinced that Germaine is the girl he rescued from drowning. Shortly afterwards Gaspard arrives in what he thinks is a still, empty chateau to gloat over the gold he has hidden there. It is he who has made the villagers believe that the chateau is haunted. Suddenly Henri and his companions, clad in armour, frighten Gaspard out of his wits. A month later Henri is established in the remodelled chateau. He orders Grenicheux to own up to Germaine that he did not save her but not to reveal the name of the true rescuer. Germaine overhears. When Henri asks her to marry him, she replies that she feels a marquis should not marry his servant. Fortunately Gaspard recovers his reason and produces a paper he has stolen which proves Germaine is the Lucenay heiress and Serpolette only a Gypsy foundling. Henri is delighted no barrier of rank remains and that he is free to marry Germaine. He forgives the now abject Gaspard as Serpolette accepts her fate and agrees to make do with Grenicheux, on her terms. The Bells of Corneville can therefore ring out once more.